Morning Fire

Dancing with pom-poms.

For the 4th and final dondo-yaki installment, here are pics of the process of the pyre. When we arrived, people were still placing charms and decorations on the huge pile. A dance with large multi colored pom-poms marked the official beginning of the event. Once the dance was over, the pom-poms were inserted into the top of the pyre. Long, stiff ropes were dipped into lighter fluid and used to ignite the pyre. Although the pyre was huge, it did not take long to burn since it's made mostly out of straw and grass. It was so awesome to admire the whole process and be warm and toasty by the fire while we watched the sun come up over the water. It was truly beautiful!

Dipping the ropes into fluid.

Inserting the pom-poms into the pyre.

The ignition!

Daruma dolls up in flames.

Drums and flutes played the whole time.